Admissions tutors - minimum number of GCSES

[Onceuponatimethen]

I am coming up to Options choices for one of my dc not that long away and am struggling to find really clear guidance on this.

My dc is very anxious and has both Autism and ADHD. They are pretty able especially on the STEM side and really want to go to university ultimately, but we need to keep the timetable as low pressure as is possible in the GCSE years for them to manage. School will support doing a more manageable timetable.

If they did 8 GCSEs only, which I would expect unless interests change would be either:

English x 2, maths, science x 3, computer science and geography

English x 2, maths, science x 2, computer science, geography and a language.

Would this be looked at negatively by eg Russell Group unis if applying for computer science, maths, engineering or geography?

I appreciate very good A level predictions in the required subjects for the relevant course would be required and we would check this course by course. BUT assuming those were in place is having too few GCSEs a barrier?

Many unis recruit based on their best eight. Only eight would be fine but also gives them less leeway if eg they struggle with English lit or their language.

Thanks so much @LizzieBananas. Do the actual marks for gcse matter extremely significantly? I had assumed as long as good - As and Bs old money then a level predictions were more important?

You can see I have a LOT to learn!!

DC can be amazing academically but also very unpredictable eg can panic and then not be able to go on. So could get excellent results or might not.

My excellent RG STEM School would care more about the GCSE results than whether 8 or 9 exams, with the proviso that our university requires Maths and English. Especially for a SEND applicant.

Our admissions decision would be based on PGs, supra-curriculars, interview outcome, etc.

8 would be totally fine, and grades matter more than marks - which unis don’t see.

either of the options choices you’ve laid out would be fine for basically anything at uni.

The caveat would be, as PP have pointed out, if you do a smaller number of GCSEs it wouldn’t give you any flex if it turns out, for example, that geography at gcse is just so hard it’s not going to be feasible to pass it, or if DC panic in an exam, can’t finish it and then therefore get a poor grade.

PS Further thoughts, OP -

Regarding the unpredictability: I know that is grim for DC but it is also a tactical issue. As an outside thought, have you considered looking into IB, which is in some ways more demanding but has a greater coursework component? I appreciate that this might not be practical for various reasons but note that as an RG admissions tutor I found IB students did very well (we dud a School wide study).

DC can rightly expect some adjustments during their exams (and this will be true at university also). Usually my School allows 25-100% extra time and I think A level adjustments are similar. The determination is made by professionals. However for a full blown panic attack this may not suffice, so it is good that you are thinking ahead. I hope DC can get this somewhat under control before the stakes increase.

I think eight is fine. Lots of those doing 9+ will have one less academic subject like art or music.

@AelinAG @Ellmau @poetryandwine
thank you all so so much. This is so helpful and really useful for me to think through with dc.

So to summarise what I’ve learned from all of your knowledge:

• 8 GCSEs would be fine
• However the actual numerical GCSE results DO still matter at uni entrance
• Having 9 could be a good tactic if it helps compensate for one fluffed exam in one subject

We do get extra time - 25% and is allowed to sit in a pastoral unit with support. Unfortunately that might not stop panic attacks etc if things continue as they are now.

So I think it will be a toss up as to whether 9 gives more lee way if panics happen, or if minimum subjects reduces stress so they are less likely to happen!

We can’t add essay subjects because those are not dc’s strong suit (so no history, sociology, politics, philosophy etc) and other subjects can’t be done for a variety of reasons some dc’s lack of interest and some not - eg very musical but has given up all instruments due to anxiety.

So I think option for GCSE 9 is realistically only doing a language.

I’ve been looking really closely at DC’s school’s exam results this evening to look at all subject choices and that has made me realise something else I didn’t know - the top maths set do further maths GCSE in Y11 and maths in Y10.

So poor dc will also have the pressure of further maths GCSE as well. They are pretty able at that, came top in year in recent challenge, but again can tend to panic.

It’s a shame for admissions purposes they do the normal maths GCSE in Y10 as I assume that then won’t count and only the much harder further maths mark will count which could be lower?

We would count the maths, OP.

Best wishes to DC

We would count maths and further maths separately too